Compliance Certificates Cape Town | Inspecto
Selling a property in Cape Town involves up to five separate compliance certificates, resulting in certificates of compliance. Each inspection and certificate is required by different legislation, each the seller’s responsibility to arrange. Miss one, and your transfer stalls. Inspecto has been helping Cape Town sellers, estate agents, and conveyancing attorneys tick every box since 1995 — issuing all five CoCs under one roof, with the reliability that keeps transfers on track.
The 5 Compliance Certificates Required for Property Transfer in Cape Town
1. Electrical Compliance Certificates (Electrical CoC)
Required by: Regulation 7(5) of the Electrical Installation Regulations (OHS Act, 1993)
Covers: Distribution board, wiring, socket outlets, light switches, earthing, bonding, isolators for fixed appliances
Valid for: 2 years (a new CoC is required if any electrical work is done in the interim)
The electrical CoC is the most widely known compliance certificate — it certifies that the fixed electrical installation on the property is safe and compliant. A property cannot transfer without a valid one.
2. Water Compliance Certificates (Water CoC)
Required by: City of Cape Town Water By-Law 2010, Section 14(1)
Covers: Geyser installation, water pipes, water meter, isolating valve, terminal fittings, storm water discharge, and cross-connections
Note: This is NOT a comprehensive plumbing certificate — it covers compliance with the by-law only
The water CoC is specific to the City of Cape Town and applies to every property transfer within the municipal boundary. A new certificate is required for each transfer — a previous buyer’s certificate cannot be reused.
3. Gas Certificate of Compliance (Conformity) (Gas CoC)
Required by: Regulation 17(3) of the Pressure Equipment Regulations (OHS Act, 1993)
Covers: Gas leaks, shut-off valves, piping and regulator condition, cylinder placement, maximum gas volume limits
Applies to: Any property with a gas installation — hobs, fireplaces, pool heaters, patio heaters
If your property has gas, you need this certificate. Apartment sellers should be particularly aware of the 9 kg cylinder limit for upper-floor units — this affects properties with gas fireplaces.
4. Beetle-Free Certificate (Wood Borer Inspection)
Required by: Standard Deed of Sale beetle clause (not legislation — but effectively mandatory in Cape Town)
Covers: All accessible timber — roof structure, floors, door and window frames, built-ins, external timber
Inspector must be: Registered with SAPCA (South African Pest Control Association) if required by the OTP
Most Offers to Purchase in Cape Town include a beetle clause making it the seller’s obligation to provide a Beetle-Free Certificate. Older properties in the Southern Suburbs, Atlantic Seaboard, and Winelands deserve particular attention.
5. Electric Fence Certificate of Compliance
Required by: Occupational Health and Safety Act / Electric Machinery Regulations
Covers: Energiser unit, earthing, warning signs, insulation, gate contacts, voltage output, isolation switch
Applies to: Any property with an energised electric fence
If your property has an electric fence — wall-top, perimeter, or otherwise — a compliance certificate is required before transfer. This is frequently overlooked until the last minute.
WHY INSPECTO?
Since 1995, Inspecto has been issuing compliance certificates for Cape Town’s property industry. We’re the company that estate agents call when a transaction is on the line and they need someone reliable. Here’s why:
Why Book Your Compliance Inspections Early?
The single biggest mistake sellers make is waiting until an offer is on the table before booking inspections. By then, any defects must be fixed on someone else’s deadline — and rushed rectification is always more expensive. Book all your compliance inspections as soon as the decision to sell is made. You’ll have time to make sensible decisions, get competitive quotes, and avoid the panic that comes with a transfer deadline.
Most often required: Electrical CoC Cape Town | Water CoC Cape Town
Serving All Cape Town Areas
Inspecto covers the entire Cape Town metro and surrounds:
- Northern Suburbs — Bellville, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein, Parow, Goodwood
- Southern Suburbs — Claremont, Rondebosch, Newlands, Kenilworth, Constantia, Tokai, Bergvliet
- Atlantic Seaboard — Sea Point, Green Point, Camps Bay, Bantry Bay, Clifton, Hout Bay
- City Bowl & surrounds — Cape Town CBD, Gardens, Observatory, Woodstock, Pinelands
- Helderberg — Somerset West, Strand, Gordon’s Bay
- Winelands — Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek
For properties outside the general Cape Town area, an additional travel cost may apply.
Book Your Compliance Inspections
Book your compliance inspections Cape Town:
Fill in our online form
Call us on 021 551 4185
Tell us which certificates you need and we’ll schedule everything efficiently — multiple inspections on the same visit where possible to save you time and cost.
Inspecto is a registered member of the Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa (ECASA).
For more information on the City of Cape Town Water By-Law, visit the City of Cape Town’s official website.
Full Compliance Certificate Training
Watch the complete training session covering all five compliance certificates required for property transfer in Cape Town — electrical, beetle, water, gas, and electric fence. Presented live by Inspecto for estate agents and conveyancing attorneys.
This full training session is also available in shorter segments — watch the individual certificate training videos on each of our compliance certificate pages: